A 1931 photo of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
PHOTO BY NATIONAL CENTRE FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
This past Sunday was the Indigenous Day of Prayer for some Christian congregations and Monday was National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. Today we will hear a grim body count, the outcome of a search for the unmarked graves of Indigenous children on the site of a Residential School in Saskatchewan. Word is that the number will exceed the 215 found in British Columbia a discovery which shocked Canadians just a few weeks ago.
I must admit that I am perplexed that this is a revelation to so many of us. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission which concluded its work in 2015 identified records of more than 3,000 child deaths in Residential Schools but felt that the number was at least twice that because of shoddy record-keeping, and perhaps as high as 25,000 according to Murray Sinclair who chaired the commission and is a former judge and Canadian senator. Ponder that number: 25,000 children snatched from their families by the government to become prisoners in church-run schools, never to return, never having the opportunity for meaningful lives. It was barbaric by any standard. When children died families were usually not informed directly with limited information sent to the regional Indian agent. In many instances the deaths were not recorded or the notation was a first name only, the English name imposed by the school authorities.
It's obvious that for all the thorough consultation done across the country for several years most Canadians just didn't pay attention to what was revealed or the ensuing recommendations from the Commission.
Residential school students at a cemetery Northern Quebec November 3, 1946.
PHOTO BY ARCHIVES DESCHÂTELETS
I saw yesterday that the United States government has announced that it will do a similar search for graves, and cites what is happening here in Canada. While these are important initiatives I hope we understand that this is not the equivalent of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Identifying graves reminds us of our shame, but there is so much which must be done for those who are alive now, including survivors of the schools and there families.
As a nation we have apologized, as have a number of Christian denominations, for these schools. It is appalling the the Roman Catholic church refuses to do so. We are now in a time of reckoning which must result in tangible reconciliation.
We can pray for all those whose wounds have been reopened by these revelations.
Here is the United Church of Canada apology regarding Residential Schools from 1998:
To former students of United Church Indian Residential Schools, and to their families and communities:
From the deepest reaches of your memories, you have shared with us your stories of suffering from our church’s involvement in the operation of Indian Residential Schools. You have shared the personal and historic pain that you still bear, and you have been vulnerable yet again. You have also shared with us your strength and wisdom born of the life-giving dignity of your communities and traditions and your stories of survival.
In response to our church’s commitment to repentance, I spoke these words of apology on behalf of the General Council Executive on Tuesday, October 27, 1998:
“As Moderator of The United Church of Canada, I wish to speak the words that many people have wanted to hear for a very long time. On behalf of The United Church of Canada, I apologize for the pain and suffering that our church’s involvement in the Indian Residential School system has caused. We are aware of some of the damage that this cruel and ill-conceived system of assimilation has perpetrated on Canada’s First Nations peoples. For this we are truly and most humbly sorry.
“To those individuals who were physically, sexually, and mentally abused as students of the Indian Residential Schools in which The United Church of Canada was involved, I offer you our most sincere apology. You did nothing wrong. You were and are the victims of evil acts that cannot under any circumstances be justified or excused.
“We know that many within our church will still not understand why each of us must bear the scar, the blame for this horrendous period in Canadian history. But the truth is, we are the bearers of many blessings from our ancestors, and therefore, we must also bear their burdens.”
Our burdens include dishonouring the depths of the struggles of First Nations peoples and the richness of your gifts. We seek God’s forgiveness and healing grace as we take steps toward building respectful, compassionate, and loving relationships with First Nations peoples.
We are in the midst of a long and painful journey as we reflect on the cries that we did not or would not hear, and how we have behaved as a church. As we travel this difficult road of repentance, reconciliation, and healing, we commit ourselves to work toward ensuring that we will never again use our power as a church to hurt others with attitudes of racial and spiritual superiority.
“We pray that you will hear the sincerity of our words today and that you will witness the living out of our apology in our actions in the future.”
The Right Rev. Bill Phipps General Council Executive 1998 The United Church of Canada
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